PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC announced today the club has signed forward Payton Linnehan. Linnehan, the 11th overall selection in the 2024 NWSL Draft, has agreed to a two-year contract with a mutual third-year option.
"We drafted Payton in the first round because of the potential we saw in her based on her performance at the collegiate level," General Manager and President of Soccer Operations Karina LeBlanc said. "After having her with the team these past few weeks it’s been exciting to see how seamlessly she fits in with our group and our culture and we look forward to seeing what she will bring on and off the field."
Linnehan, 22, joins Portland after spending five years at Penn State, where she recorded 34 goals and 20 assists in 90 appearances for the Nittany Lions. This past year she led Penn State with 10 goals, including a hat-trick against Central Connecticut State, as well as contributing four assists. Five of her goals came in the postseason, including a stoppage-time game winner against Saint Louis in the 2023 NCAA College Cup Round of 16 to propel her squad to the Elite Eight.
"Payton has had a positive impact on our environment since she stepped into it, she is hard working, takes care of her body and preparation, along with being incredibly dedicated to getting better," Head Coach Mike Norris said. "We feel her athleticism and mindset to go forward are a great fit for us and we are super excited to add her to our Thorns family and look forward to seeing her shine."
The forward becomes the sixth Nittany Lion to play for the Portland Thorns, among which currently includes midfielder Sam Coffey. Linnehan leaves Penn State as just the fourth Nittany Lion to score multiple hat tricks in a career.
Linnehan has spent extensive time within the U.S. Youth National Team system. In 2016 she helped the U-15 USYNT win the 2016 CONCACAF U-15 Championship, where she scored eight goals to win the tournament’s Golden Boot award. She went on to represent the United States at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and has been part of the U.S. U-23 roster where she competed in the Thorns FC invitational during last year’s preseason.
The Thorns will begin the National Women’s Soccer League regular season on March 16 against Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium before returning to Providence Park on March 24 for the home opener against NJ/NY Gotham FC, tickets for which are on sale now.
PORTLAND, Ore. (Saturday, August 15, 2026) – The Portland Thorns continued their impressive home form with a 2-1 win over Orlando Pride on Saturday when forward Caiya Hanks — who was making her return to the pitch after missing action for over a year with an ACL injury — scored a stoppage time winner to secure three points for the home side.
Both sides battled back and forth as they tried to search for the opening goal, with Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold making three saves to ensure the match remained level going into the halftime break.
The Thorns came out into the second half much more threatening in Orlando’s half and finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when forward Pietra Tordin laid the ball off to forward Deyna Castellanos, who from the top right corner of Orlando’s box placed the ball perfectly into the top left corner of the goal over the hands of Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse.
The lead was short lived however when Arnold’s diving save to punch out a crossed ball in the 63rd minute ricocheted off the knees of Orlando forward Jacqueline Ovalle and rolled into the net to level things back up.
From there, Portland and Orlando continued in their fight to search for a second and despite several good looks at goal, the match remained level.
That would all change after Hanks — who subbed on in the 88th minute — curled the ball into the goal from outside the box in the 96th to send Providence Park into a frenzy as the Thorns secured three points and extended its home unbeaten streak to 12 matches, nine on the season.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns host Denver Summit FC for the first time at Providence Park on Saturday, August 22. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:45 pm PT on ION and 910 ESPN Portland. Purchase tickets for the match HERE.
TEAM NOTES
GOAL BREAKDOWN
First Half
N/A
Second Half
POR – Deyna Castellanos (Pietra Tordin) 58’
ORL – Jacqueline Ovalle 63’
POR – Caiya Hanks (M.A. Vignola) 90+6’
LINEUPS
Portland Thorns (4-2-3-1): Mackenzie Arnold (GK), M.A. Vignola, Jayden Perry, Isabella Obaze (Sam Hiatt 78’), Carolyn Calzada, Jessie Fleming-C, Nina Nijstad (Cassandra Bogere 85’), Pietra Tordin (Caiya Hanks 88’), Deyna Castellanos (Renee Lyles 78’), Marie Müller (Morgan Weaver 67’), Sophia Wilson
Subs not used: Morgan Messner (GK), Reyna Reyes, Shae Harvey, Mallie McKenzie
Orlando Pride (4-4-2): Anna Moorhouse (GK), Hailie Mace (Gabi Nunes 90+8’), Rafaelle (Zoe Matthews 89’), Cori Dyke, Oihane Hernández (Zara Chavoshi 76’), Solai Washington, Ally Lemos, Haley McCutcheon-C, Julie Doyle (Summer Yates 65’), Jacqueline Ovalle, Barbra Banda (Angelina 65’)
Subs not used: Cara Martin (GK), Cossette Morche, Luana, Nicole Payne
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
POR: N/A
ORL: Jacqueline Ovalle (Yellow) 40’, Julie Doyle (Yellow) 52’, Rafaelle (Yellow) 85’
MATCH STATS
POR | ORL
Goals: 2|1
Assists: 2|0
Possession: 51|49
Shots: 10|12
Shots on Target: 4|6
Saves: 5|2
Tackles: 16|16
Tackles Won: 9|11
Interceptions: 14|26
Fouls: 7|6
Offsides: 0|1
Corner Kicks: 0|6
ATTENDANCE: 19,106
Referee: Brad Jensen
Assistant Referee 1: Katarzyna Wasiak
Assistant Referee 2: Sarah Gaddes
4th Official: Justin St. Pierre
VAR: Danielle Chesky
Assistant VAR: Seun Yinka-Kehinde
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC announced today the club has signed forward Payton Linnehan. Linnehan, the 11th overall selection in the 2024 NWSL Draft, has agreed to a two-year contract with a mutual third-year option.
"We drafted Payton in the first round because of the potential we saw in her based on her performance at the collegiate level," General Manager and President of Soccer Operations Karina LeBlanc said. "After having her with the team these past few weeks it’s been exciting to see how seamlessly she fits in with our group and our culture and we look forward to seeing what she will bring on and off the field."
Linnehan, 22, joins Portland after spending five years at Penn State, where she recorded 34 goals and 20 assists in 90 appearances for the Nittany Lions. This past year she led Penn State with 10 goals, including a hat-trick against Central Connecticut State, as well as contributing four assists. Five of her goals came in the postseason, including a stoppage-time game winner against Saint Louis in the 2023 NCAA College Cup Round of 16 to propel her squad to the Elite Eight.
"Payton has had a positive impact on our environment since she stepped into it, she is hard working, takes care of her body and preparation, along with being incredibly dedicated to getting better," Head Coach Mike Norris said. "We feel her athleticism and mindset to go forward are a great fit for us and we are super excited to add her to our Thorns family and look forward to seeing her shine."
The forward becomes the sixth Nittany Lion to play for the Portland Thorns, among which currently includes midfielder Sam Coffey. Linnehan leaves Penn State as just the fourth Nittany Lion to score multiple hat tricks in a career.
Linnehan has spent extensive time within the U.S. Youth National Team system. In 2016 she helped the U-15 USYNT win the 2016 CONCACAF U-15 Championship, where she scored eight goals to win the tournament’s Golden Boot award. She went on to represent the United States at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and has been part of the U.S. U-23 roster where she competed in the Thorns FC invitational during last year’s preseason.
The Thorns will begin the National Women’s Soccer League regular season on March 16 against Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium before returning to Providence Park on March 24 for the home opener against NJ/NY Gotham FC, tickets for which are on sale now.
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